1776: Motion Picture Soundtrack: Molasses To Rum

[weirdaljedifan2]

I was just cast as Rutledge in my High School's production. This is going to be fun.

[Nungael]

I think they finally brought out a soundtrack for the film version. My dad and I have two different versions, that's the only explanation I can think of. I could be wrong though.

[SitaBrightwind]

@Nungael awesome! where?

[fadinginthedark]

That man has a beautiful voice. This is the easily the most fabulous (and disturbing) song in 1776. It's amazing, but I can't help but notice that whenever people talk about slavery they point fingers at the colonists(which we should because they promoted slavery for years) but no one acknowledges the fact that owning a person indefinitely only became legal in America after Anthony Johnson(a black man) went to court and won his case so that he could own his indentured servants for life.

[JokersGirl0711]

@fadinginthedark That's John Callum. He's mainly known for TV series "Northern Exposure."

[JokersGirl0711]

@JokersGirl0711 Cullum. My apologies.

[VValkyrie]

Excellent voice of John Cullum. He's in "The Conspirator".

[DavidbarZeus1]

This song doesn't complete the picture of Northern hypocrisy. Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize slavery, plied the slave trade until at least 1846, practiced white slavery, and didn't become a free state until 1865. Like Rutledge says "Hail Boston, Hail Charleston. Who stinketh the more?"

[EmiLovey10]

I love this man's voice.....

[RosesNightengales]

Dude. I love his version of Rutledge! No one can do it like him.

[BibleJoker2Face]

at 3:05, Rutledge says, "Finger them." Vulgar, isn't it?

[Sshelly34213]

Some irony, Rutledge later freed all of his slaves

[jmfulls]

Okay, I'm half black...however, is it wrong that I think they guy that sings this sings it in an incredibly sexy way?  Probably-maybe that's what they were going for, that whole evily seductive, but still evil thing.

[TarielOfLorien]

You are so, so not wrong. Many would agree with you. Actually, I think the song just kind of points out that the North wasn't innocent. They were always pointing fingers, but their hands certainly weren't clean. At least, that's what I always got from the song. Not necessarily promoting slavery, but rather putting down the North's self-righteousness. :)

[freshlyshaven]

Exactly.

[1andonlyCobra]

A+ for you. The last verse puts it best- "Who sail the ships back to Boston laden with gold see it gleam. Whose fortunes are made in the triangle trade?"..."Hail Boston, Hail Charleston. Who stinketh, the most?"

[avatartbk]

I love this song, it's one of my all time favorite numbers. I've tried to develop my own singing voice in homage to his.

[wheresolive]

No, it's not wrong at all. I feel the same way. John Cullum has a very sexy voice. He's describing the horrors of slavery and pointing out the North's hypocrisy. Pure sarcasm. Despite the song's grisly content, I find his voice very sexy. The fact that it's such an incredibly powerful performance doesn't hurt.

[Sshelly34213]

@jmfulls lol, nah dude's just an actor, I think he's hot too.

[CBDK8009]

This is why the terrorists are winning.

[AbbyMireene]

This is a great song, and so heavy on imagery you can quite clearly see what Rutledge is describing, from the slaves crammed in the ships, to the auction block. I like the part when he starts singing about the West Indies, and the tribal-sounding drums start to play.

[justmzcellophane]

you don't have to be a 'nerd' to love and know the TRUTH of the continental congress.

I adore everything to read about the men that sat in that congess. What did they do? What did they think? I know one thing if you look into the history of many of these men they lost fortune, freedom even their own lives to make sure this country became "Brittish" free. Yah all the people here who know this.

yes Rutlidge signed, Dickinson left to fight for the country he too loved. feeling that brits 2 win

[KarenCrutcher1]

Some people are saying in earlier comments that Rutledge didn't sign the Declaration of Independence. He signed it. Thomas Jefferson had to remove a passage about freeing the slaves from the declaration first, though. When Rutledge saw the passage removed, then he and the rest of the southern delegates signed.

[DBCADemon]

I just randomly had a craving for this song *shrugs*. It is probably the creepiest of the whole musical, but you know what, it was SO well performed! Yay... I am a total nerd, so sue me.

[GoilofdaNewsies]

You know, yes, it's me again! If you look on the Declaration, Mr. Rutledge didn't sign. And later, if my memory serves, he says he'll fight, but not sign.

[eysblog1fan]

Rutledge signed :) (found his signature)--he didn't have good writing I think he had gout or something that caused him to write bad and faught--got captured :( Dickinson didn't sign

[GoilofdaNewsies]

Oh, when I looked, I couldn't find it. And I think Franklin was the only one with gout. That one dude, forget his name (gah!) had cancer, and I didn't think Rutledge had any maladies of any sort.

[eysblog1fan]

"forget his name" Ceaser Rodney of Delaware

[GoilofdaNewsies]

Oh, thank you. And I looked again, and yes, Edward did sign. Huh, how did I miss it?

[Pfisiar22]

Dickinson made up for it later by helping to save the US constitution from being defeated in the constitutional convention.

[eysblog1fan]

he did? YEA DICKINSON! :)

[PrettyWittyNell]

That's Dickinson. Rutledge's signature is clearly visible.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

1776 is a wonderful musical.

I love it.

George Vreeland Hill

[goololly]

John Callum was Holling in "Nortrhern Exposure." What an actor!

[kas2lip]

It is AWESOME

[GoilofdaNewsies]

I love this song, I love it with all my heart, though when I saw it at the Guthrie, I was so scared of it, 'cuz he was just screaming.

Amazing though...5/5!

[Ares925]

I to saw 1776 at the Guthrie during a conference a year or two back, this was one my favorite parts, he really put a great deal of intensity into it.

[CurlyHayami]

Beauitful rip-a damn shame it doesn't have an OFFICIAL release as a soundtrack...one of those lost/overlooked gems I suppose (oh how cool it'd be to actually see it on stage back in the day)

[PachacutecFDL]

The singer is John Cullum.

[kdvaziri]

omg im such a nerd but i luv this song!!

[jblunamario]

this is kinda chatchy

[sillyputty49]

I really excited to be playin Edward Rutledge(singer of song) in my schools musical. Love this Song!!!!

[yoimsterling]

@sillyputty49 Thats awesome. im related to edward rutledge!

[bluebody99]

I like my version of the song best ;) ... It is by far the best video I've made and the first one I"m proud of :) ... I especially think I do the part where he sings all crazy just as well as he does it :)

If anyone is curious it's posted above as a video response...

[hardknott]

Where do I send the email address so you can send me a copy of this song if you would, please?

[SitaBrightwind]

Send it to me by private message on Youtube - I am attempting to learn how to make this song smaller, and thus mail it

[tonybear82]

That is an awesome song. Thank you for the new audition cut. :)

[Xichinakidal]

This is indeed a rare find! Thank you for posting this haunting and wonderfully sung song from one of the best musicals of all time.

[smarty1196]

my class is doing a play based on this movie....i play james wilson ..vey minor role but still important.

[iHateAllCannedFish]

Could you send me this song?

[SitaBrightwind]

If you send me your e-mail address I can attach it I think

[diddymuck]

told that america's greatest sin, slavery, was a product of both the slave state and the supposed "free" states.

[agentmabus333]

Definitely one of the greatest, lesser-known musicals in the world. I want to be in this musical as Ben Franklin...but this is definitely one of the greatest/technical/dare I say beautiful songs of the entire musical (and I'm not meaning that to be racist.)

[TarielOfLorien]

You have no idea how happy you've just made me. I've been looking for this everywhere, and the one video I finally found cut off before the final note. John Cullum is definitely my favorite Rutledge. No one else I've heard ever seems to hold a candle to this performance. Thanks again for posting!

[iHateAllCannedFish]

I'd love to be in this play. As Abigail. I have the right voice for it.

[MSMcFLYSyndrome]

Wish I did, too.

[PhoenixWrightfan101]

I love how he goes crazy during the middle of this song. It must be pretty fun to perform. :D

[eysblog1fan]

Thanks for putting this up! :) were do you get the soundtrack? is this John Cullum?

[gastonleroux1911]

Yep! It's John Cullum, who did not originate the role, unlike many of the leads in the movie of 1776, but he was the longest running Rutledge in the original production.

[SitaBrightwind]

There is no copy of this soundtrack in existance. No joke. I ripped it directly from the video - had to do a lot of cutting with some of the songs.

[CrazyPyromaniac]

His voice is something else... and this song is so...haunting. I love it!